How To Use Social Proof To Increase Conversion on a WordPress Website

Imagine that you are shopping online, and you have spotted 2 identical products. It’s really hard to decide which product you should choose, right? Which would you put your trust in more? You might miss selecting the best product. 

Well, you can help your customer on their buying journey. You should incorporate a deciding factor in your online store, and that is through using social proof. 

Social proof gains trust and entices customers to make their purchases. It would lead to significant sales. Social proof lets your customers know that your store has a good reputation through the reviews, testimonies, and ratings from your buyers.  

In this guide, we’ll explain why social proof matters, break down the different types, and give you actionable tips to start using it effectively on your website.

What is social proof in digital marketing, and why does it matter?

La preuve sociale is the psychological phenomenon where people look to the actions of others to guide their own decisions. In marketing, it’s the subtle nudge, yet a very powerful strategy that reassures potential customers.

So, what makes social proof so powerful? The answer is human psychology. It could make the customers think, “Others have trusted this, so can I.” It creates a path to the natural tendency to follow the actions and opinions of others.  

This principle matters because:

1. People trust peers more than brands.

When shopping online, customers can’t inspect the item physically. Instead, we rely on what others’ first-hand impressions and experiences are after they received and used the product. In fact, nearly 70% of online shoppers read reviews before buying, and according to BrightLocal, 50% of consumers trust user reviews just as much as recommendations from friends or family.

2. It reduces buyer hesitation.

Seeing real reviews, ratings, or testimonials confirms that the product or service delivers as it promised. The social proof answers buyers’ hesitation, “Will this really work for me?”

3. It increases conversion rates by building instant credibility.

Social proof not only builds trust, but it also directly impacts conversions. For example, showcasing customer reviews can increase eCommerce conversion rates by as much as 67%.

Similarly, negative feedback can do serious damage. A single bad review was enough to make potential customers abandon their purchase. 

Adding social proof when done right can make your business appear more credible, trustworthy, et in demand, all key factors that drive purchases.

Types of Social Proof and How To Collect Them

Here are the most effective types of social proof and how to implement them, especially using the WP Social Proof plugin, which helps automate and display social activity in real-time on your WordPress site.

1. Customer Reviews and Testimonials

This type of social proof is one of the most trusted and widely used types. These are direct statements or comments from people who have already tried or consumed a certain product or service. These include experiences, opinions, and outcomes.

Customer reviews and testimonials tap into a simple psychological principle, “We tend to trust the experiences of others, especially people like us, when making decisions. A glowing review can validate a purchase, while positive testimonials can reinforce confidence among buyers.

This type of social proof gives your potential buyers reassurance that your product or service delivers results. 

Now, how can you gather the testimonials and reviews? 

You can gather testimonies and reviews by reaching out to your customers after they’ve made a purchase.

Start by reaching out to your customers after they’ve made a purchase and ask for their honest feedback. This can be done through an automated post-purchase email requesting a testimonial. If you’re running a service-based business, consider sending a personal email to ask if they’d be willing to share a testimonial about their experience. You may also send a survey to your customers through the use of a WordPress plugin like Metform. 

2. Live Purchase Notifications

Live Purchase Notifications are a type of social proof that show real-time pop-up messages on a website indicating recent customer activity—typically purchases. You’ve probably seen them before: a small notification appears in the corner of your screen saying something like:

“Jane from New York just bought the brand X facial wash 3 minutes ago.”

This type of social proof creates a sense of urgency and FOMO (fear of missing out). You can use plugins like ShopEngine and FOMO for WooCommerce to display live purchase notifications.

3. User-Generated Content (UGC)

User-generated content (UGC) refers to photos, videos, and reviews shared by your customers. It can also come from influencers you partner with. UCG often feels more genuine and trustworthy because it is created by real people who are your customers. 

Here’s a social proof marketing example under UGC:

You can start by creating a unique branded hashtag. You may launch a social campaign to invite your customers to post photos or videos wearing your product. These strategies are very powerful to boost the visibility and recognition of your brand. 

You can share their photos and videos highlighting your product on different social media platforms. One effective way is to dedicate a section on your website to showcase UGC so that other customers will see it, building customer trust and encouraging them to make a purchase.  

4. Social Media Followers and Shares

Social media followers and shares are visible indicators of how many people are interested in and engaging with your brand on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn, and X (Twitter). These numbers act as social proof and showcase on your website. If many people follow, like, or share content from a brand, others are more likely to think that brand is trustworthy, valuable, popular, and relevant.

For example, a business with 80,000 followers appears more established and reliable than one with just 8000. Even if these followers don’t try your product and prove quality, they still create a first impression that can reduce hesitation in taking action.

5. Endorsements and Influencer Testimonials

The social media endorsements are public approval or recommendation of your product or service by a credible figure. It could be from a celebrity, industry expert, satisfied customer, or organization. Endorsement could be in the form of a quote, video, review, or social media post where the person says they support or use your brand.

When choosing an endorser, he should be a person with a large number of loyal followers. Their approval acts like a trusted seal, convincing customers that the product meets high standards. 

6. Customer Count and Stats

Customer count and statistics are very good social proof. The higher the count and the better the statistics are, the better to prove that your brand has a high reputation. These are form of quantitative social proof that show how many people have chosen or benefited from your product or service. These numbers act as visible evidence that your brand is popular, trusted, and actively used.

Numbers and stats speak volumes. Displaying the number oof satisfied customers, number of sold items, and average star ratings in your website can significantly enhance your store’s credibility. For example:

“Over 100,000 satisfied customers”

“Rated 4.89out of 5 by 100+ users”

These stats don’t just inform, they absolutely persuade.

Where To Place Your Social Proofs

Placement is just as important as the proof itself. Strategic locations can make or break its effectiveness:

📍 Homepage – You can include customer count stats, high-profile endorsements, and recent activity notifications.

📍 Product or Service Pages – Use reviews, testimonials, and real-time sales alerts using WP Social Proof.

📍 Checkout Page – Minimize cart abandonment by displaying last-purchase notifications or satisfaction guarantees.

📍 Pop-Ups or Slide-Ins – WP Social Proof lets you add tasteful pop-ups showing real-time actions, great for driving urgency.

📍 Blog Posts – Reinforce content with user comments, reader counts, or product reviews relevant to the topic.

Best Practices for Using Social Proof

To get the most out of your social proof strategies, follow these key tips:

✔ Be Authentic – Avoid fake reviews or inflated stats. Real feedback builds long-term trust.

✔ Stay Updated – Old testimonials can look outdated. WP Social Proof updates in real-time, keeping your site fresh.

✔ Make It Visual – Use images, avatars, star ratings, or even video testimonials to draw attention.

✔ Use Variety – Don’t just rely on one type of social proof. Combine reviews, counters, social shares, and notifications for maximum impact.

✔ Test Placement and Frequency – A/B test where and how often your social proof appears. WP Social Proof includes customization options so you can fine-tune your displays.

Best Social Proof Plugin

Now that you know the types of social proof, best practices, and the best place to put your social proof, it’s time you know the plugin to use. Among many social plugins, we’ve found that Plugin WP Social is a very good option.

Here’s why:

1. Social Register/Login

WP Social simplifies user login with social register/login buttons. This makes the sign-in of your visitors to different social networks quick and easy. 

You can customize login redirect URLs and choose where social login buttons appear. It could be from the default WordPress login and registration pages to WooCommerce, comments, and more.

Additionally, WP Social supports 9 major providers, including Facebook, Google, Twitter, LinkedIn, GitHub, Dribbler, Reddit, WordPress, et Vkontakte. This makes the login so quick, in just a few seconds. 

Lastly, WP Social integrates smoothly with WordPress, WooCommerce, and BuddyPress, and offers stylish, ready-made button designs for a polished user experience.

2. Social Share

Le social share feature of WP Social allows your visitors to easily share your content on different social media platforms, including the 15 major platforms, such as Facebook, Pinterest, etc. 

You can choose from ready-made button styles, display them in horizontal or vertical layouts, and even toggle share counts on or off. 

3. Social Counter

Tu peux display real-time follower counts from up to 15 major platforms like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn. This helps build trust and encourage more people to follow you.

You can choose from a variety of stylish templates and effects, including flat, rounded, hover, color, and metro styles. You can also add counters anywhere using a widget or shortcode, with no coding required.

Moreover, you can easily manage the settings like cache duration for updated stats and customize the design to your preference. 

Pensée finale

Social proofs aren’t just a marketing trend, they are psychological triggers in marketing to influence the decision-making of your potential customers. With tools like the Plugin WP Social, adding real-time, dynamic social proof to your WordPress site is easier than ever. Be it customer reviews or follower counts, the plugin does the job a lot easier. 

Ready to boost your conversions? Adapt social proof sharing and think of WP Social and start watching the rise of your site’s engagement and sales.